Electrical connectors and attaching means therefor



N. F. DAMON Fei). 3, 1959 ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 51, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVENTOR NE/L ,4? DAMON BY w y I ATTQRWEY N. F. DAMON ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v l EN TORI NE/L F. DAMON By 84%;

TTOPNEV United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ATTACHING MEANS THEREFOR Neil F. Damon, Weston, Mass., assignor to Raytheon Manufacturing Company, Waltham, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1956, Serial No. 607,417

- 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-59) This invention relates to detachable electrical connectors, particularly of the smallest size adapted to receive a standard 0.080" probe, and, more particularly, to means for fastening such connectors in a hole in a panel.

' The connector and fastening means of this invention constitute an improvement ofthe connector forming the subject matter of my Patent No. 2,685,073 and my copending applications, No. 566,292, filed February 17, 1956, and No. 600,604, filed July 26, 1956.

In a representative embodiment of the invention, a slotted sleeve of conductive resilient material, preferably of beryllium copper, formed with fingers at its inner end is inserted into the inside of a sleeve of conductive material having an inside diameter somewhat less than that of the slotted sleeve, so that when the slotted sleeve is inserted into the sleeve it will be forced together, tending to close the slot and exert considerable pressure on the inner walls of the tube to assure its retention within the tube. The inner slotted end of the .slit tube is crimped inward before insertion to form inward pointing fingers that press against a mating pin inserted from the outer end. A tubular insulator with a shoulder is inserted into an opening in the mounting panel. This insulator is provided with an opening dimensioned to receive the second sleeve, the outside diameter of this insulator being somewhat greater than that of the opening in the panel, so that the insulator must be forced into the opening in the panel. When the first sleeve is inserted in the second, the insulator is compressed further inside the opening in the panel and the displaced material bulges out within the panel to hold the sleeve firmly in place. The circuit to be tested is connected to the second sleeve on the inside. A mating probe is inserted from the outside and is guided between the fingers of the inner contact sleeve to make good electrical contact with the contact sleeve which, in turn, makes good contact with the second sleeve to which is connected the circuit element. The result is a connector making good electrical contact with a mating element and firmly attached to a panel.

Where it is desirable to use the conventional nut and lock washer for panel mounting, the construction of the invention can be modified by adding a metallic threaded sleeve, having the outer end of its opening smaller in diameter than the insulator and the inner end of its opening of larger diameter so that when the insulator containing the contact sleeve is inserted in the threaded sleeve Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view of another embodiment of the connector;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the embodiment of the connector shown in Fig. 3 assembled and mounted in a panel; and

Fig. 5 is an outer end view of the assembled connector of Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. l the numeral 10 designates an insulating bushing formed with an opening having a region 11 of larger diameter toward the outer end and a region 12 of smaller diameter toward the inner end separated by a shoulder 13. The outside of the bushing has a region 14 of larger diameter at the outer end separated from the region of lesser diameter 15 by a shoulder 16. This region 15 preferably has a taper 17. The bushing 10 is adapted for insertion into an' opening 18 in a panel 20 with its shoulder 16 resting against the outer side of the panel 20, as shown in Fig. 2. The diameter of the region 15 of the bushing is somewhat greater than that of the opening 18 in the panel 20 so that it is necessary to force the bushing 10 into the opening 18. A slit sleeve 21 of resilient conductive material formed with crimped fingers 22 is inserted into the opening 23 in a second sleeve 24 of conductive material. The slit sleeve is preferably made of beryllium copper. The contact sleeve 24 within which it fits is closed at one end which is formed into a terminal 25 for the convenient attachment of wires from the point of the circuit to be tested. Other ways of making this connection can be used. A flange 26 is formed at the other end of the sleeve 23. This flange is adapted to rest against the shoulder 13 of the bushing 10 when inserted into its opening from the outer end, terminal end first. The inner conductive slit sleeve 21 has a slightly larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the opening 23 in the sleeve 24 so as to form a pressure contact with this sleeve.

When the connector is assembled, the bushing 10 is inserted into the opening 18 in the panel 20, compressing this portion of the bushing. The connector slit sleeve 21 is forced into the contact sleeve 24, which, in turn, is inserted into the opening in the bushing 10. The inner portion of the resilient insulating bushing 16 then springs outward on the inside of the panel to form a protuberance 27 that retains the connector rigidly in position. This connector is securely insulatedly mounted in the panel affording a good electrical contact between a probe 28 inserted in the slit sleeve 21 and the terminal 25 which is connected to the desired point in the circuit. The bushing 10 is prevented from moving into or out of the opening in the panel by the shoulder and expanded portion of the bushing on the inner side. The sleeve 24 is held in position by the shoulder 13 and the flange 26 and, also, by the inward pressure of the compressed resilient bushing 10. The slit sleeve 21 is held in position by its outward pressure against the sleeve 24. The result is an efiicient compact connector.

Where it is desirable to mount a connector of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in an opening in a panel by means of a nut and lock washer, the connector of Figs. 1 and 2 may be modified as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. A slit sleeve 3%, similar to the slit sleeve 21 of Figs. 1 and 2, is inserted into opening 31 in a contact sleeve 32 similar to the contact sleeve 24 of Figs. 1 and 2, which is, in turn, inserted into a insulating bushing 33 similar to the insulating bushing 10 of Figs. 1 and 2, much as before. This assembly is then inserted in an opening 34 in a sleeve of conductive material 35 formed with a flange 36 on the outer end. The opening 34 in the sleeve 35 has a region 37 of larger internal diameter at the inner end and separated from a region of smaller internal diameter 38 at the front by a shoulder 40. The mounting sleeve 35 is provided with a threaded region 41 on the outside. When the insulated bushing 33 is inserted in the opening 34 in the last-mentioned sleeve 35, the inside diameter of the outer end of which is slightly smaller than the normal outside diameter of the in,- sulated bushing 33, the material of the bushing is .compressed in the restricted forward portion of. the opening and expands in the enlarged. rear portion 37 of the opening to lock the connector in posit-ion. Theassembly is then "inserted into an opening '42 in the panel '43 and fastened securely in place by means of a lock washer 44 and a nut 45 screwed into the threaded portion. 41 of the outside of the sleeve 35;

This invention is not limited to the particular details of construction, materials and processes described, as many equivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad interpretation commensurate with the scope ofthe invention within the art.

, What is claimed is: r V

1. A detachable electrical connector comprising a tubular resilient insulating support member having a region of greater internal cross-sectional area near one end separated from the region of lesser cross section by a shoulder, a first conductive tubular member formed with a flange at the inner end mounted within said support member with the flange resting against the shoulder on the support member and a second conductive resilient tubular member formed with split and inwardly bent fingers at 'one'end and having an outer uncompressedidi ameter slightly greater than that of the first tubular member mounted within said first tubular member with the fingered end inward.

2. A detachable electrical connector comprising a tubular resilient insulatingsupportmember having a region of greater internal cross-sectional area near one end separated from the region of lesser cross section by a shoulder, a first conductivetubular member formed with a flange at one end and a terminal at the other mounted Within said support member with the flange resting against the shoulder on the support member and a second conductive resilient, tubular memberformed with split and inwardly bentfingers at one end and having an outer uncompressed diameter slightly greater than that of the first tubular member mounted within said first tubular member with the fingered end inward.

References Cited the file of this patent 5 Johnson 5. Mar. 15, 1955 

